COVID-19: Odisha govt makes registration for returnees mandatory

Bhubaneswar: Emphasising on the need for a decentralised approach in the fight against deadly COVID-19, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said empowering urban local bodies and gram panchayats will help in a great way in this long battle.

In a video message, the CM said registration of people returning from other States at panchayat level has been done mandatory.

“Every gram panchayat will have registration facility. Those who are returning from other States will register themselves in the panchayats. Following this they will kept in 14-day quarantine. Their treatment, food and accommodation expenses will be taken care by the State government. Family members and relatives of the returnees will ensure that the registration happens,” the CM said.

After the quarantine, the returnees will be given Rs 2000 incentive, he added.

To ensure that the registration happens at the gram panchayat level, sarpanchs will be given the power of Collector and accordingly law has been changed. This will help in tackling the spread of the coronavirus in a better way, the CM said.

“To implement this effectively and with a humane touch the State government in a historic move, delegates the powers of District Collectors to the Sarpanches of the Gram Panchayat for their jurisdiction, under the provisions of Section 51 of the Disaster Management Act of 2005, The Epidemic Diseases Act 1897 ,read with Odisha COVID-19 Regulations 2020,” he added.

Lakhs of people from Odisha including , pilgrims, labourers, students and professionals have been stranded in other states due to the pandemic and subsequent lockdown. Their life is life is yet to become normal despite efforts made by Odisha government and other States, he informed.

Extraordinary situations call for Extraordinary solutions. Empowering panchayats and Urban local bodies will facilitate smooth movement, track and monitor the returnees, and strengthen our fight against COVID-19, Patnaik said.